Vivace was a fun place to have dinner with a family member on a recent trip to my former hometown. We arrived at 8 on a Friday night and the place was still jam-packed. As the evening wore on, the number of diners decreased and the number of lounge drinkers upstairs increased. The upstairs area (which has a full bar) would be a fantastic space to reserve for a rehearsal dinner or other special event. There is an open patio that has a fantastic view of downtown Charlotte.
The food was pretty good - nothing to write home about, but nothing to complain about either. The service was spectacular - we had a very nice waitress who helped us pick out things to eat and drink. The atmosphere is on the trendy/hip side, but nothing too obnoxious. Lots of seating available for both couples and larger groups.
Overall, I probably wouldn't return here when I visit, but if I lived in town, I might hit it up again with a group of friends. I'd definitely go for a drink on that upstairs patio with the view.